BRONZE FOR CAROLINE

Fairlands Valley Spartans’ CAROLINE BARTER is a county medallist. She won BRONZE in the Hertfordshire County Marathon Championships with her time of 4 hours 40 minutes 49 seconds. The championships were incorporated in the undulating Halstead Marathon.

Track and Field

Wednesday evening proved to be a really cold, wet and windy evening at Bedford for the second meeting of the Eastern Masters Athletics Club track and field league. The weather was so bad, part of a tree on the back straight of the track broke off and fell to the ground!

The Spartan women continued their good form by finishing second to Marshall Milton Keynes by 4 points. Their team consisted of Monica Brown, Hazel Clark, Kathy Craig, Sharon Crowley, Yuko Gordon, Iris Hornsey, Christine Lathwell, Tessa Stephenson, Andrea Westcott and Peta Wilson, The men’s team of Anton McCalla, Mark Freeman, Mark Glading, Craig Halsey, James Kilroy, Steve Mayfield, Barry Osborne and Dave Stephenson were third behind Bedford and County Athletics Club and Milton Keynes Athletics Club.

Highlights were wins for men’s team Captain Mark Freeman who commenced his new age group competition as a 60 year old by winning the B string 1500 metre walk. Dave Stephenson won the mens 50 to 59 age group high jump in 1 metre 35cm.

Monica Brown was in great form winning several events (80 Metre Hurdles, 200 metres, High Jump and Triple Jump), Iris Hornsey (200 Metres 60+) Cathy Craig (women’s 60+ High Jump), Yuko Gordon (Women 60+ 1500 Metres). The women’s 50+years team (Tessa Stephenson, Sharon Crowley, Yuko Gordon and Monica Brown) then finished off the evening by winning their age group relay in a League record of 2 minutes 23.8 seconds.

The women’s team are looking strong to qualify as one of the two teams for the final in September.

Viking Carol

CAROL PAUL ran her best marathon in over 10 years on Sunday. She took part in the Viking Coastal marathon at Birchington in Kent. On a four lap flat course along the coast which started at 7am Carol completed the 26.2 miles in 4:08:09.

Faster in Hertford

Recently ANDREW MARTIN ran the Hertford 5K in a new personal best (PB) of 24 minutes 10 seconds.

Parkrun Reports

At least 30 Spartans* turned out for the second Stevenage parkrun at the weekend, making up over 10% of the healthy field of 272.

It was a Spartans first place double as CRAIG HALSEY made it six parkrun first places on the trot (previously three at St Albans and two at Luton in February through to April) with his time of 17 minutes 16 seconds and NATALIE LAWRENCE followed up last week’s first place with more of the same, officially two seconds outside last week’s time at 18:49.

For the men, JOHN NELMS was second Spartan home, breaking 20 minutes for the first time, while KEIRAN FEETHAM and DAVE SMITH also notched new course PBs in being third and fourth male Spartans across the line.

For the women, CLAIRE COX was second Spartan finisher in a new course PB (personal best), fourth woman overall, and CAROLE SHELDRICK and LESLIE AITKINS were third and fourth Spartan women.

There were additional course PBs for PAUL BATTERBEE, DARREN EMMERSON, and ANDY PRIOR.

The published list of Spartan finishers was as follows:

Pos

Gender Pos

Name

Time

Note

1

1

Craig HALSEY

17:16

First Timer!

4

1

Natalie LAWRENCE

18:49

PB stays at 00:18:47

14

13

John NELMS

19:58

New PB!

17

16

Kieran FEETHAM

20:20

New PB!

25

24

Dave SMITH

21:05

New PB!

28

27

Liam ERRINGTON

21:18

PB stays at 00:21:17

31

29

Paul BATTERBEE

21:37

New PB!

54

51

Mark BEASLEY

22:58

PB stays at 00:21:56

56

53

Darren EMMERSON

23:19

New PB!

57

54

Adam RANDS

23:20

First Timer!

58

55

Martin DUDLEY

23:21

First Timer!

61

4

Claire COX

23:33

New PB!

73

67

Andy PRIOR

24:05

New PB!

77

71

Callum BEASLEY

24:20

PB stays at 00:23:53

127

113

John MCCALL

27:20

First Timer!

130

16

Carole SHELDRICK

27:26

First Timer!

138

18

Lesley AITKINS

28:17

First Timer!

143

20

Caroline CROFT

28:45

First Timer!

144

21

Theresa KEAST

28:45

First Timer!

154

23

Beverley HARLOW

29:24

First Timer!

173

34

Chloe EMMERSON

31:10

PB stays at 00:30:38

179

37

Hazel SMITH

31:43

First Timer!

184*

39*

Liz MORGAN

32:00

Missed by scanner

198

156

Ian ALEXANDER

32:50

PB stays at 00:32:06

202

44

Hilary DAVIES

33:03

First Timer!

237

55

Emma POULTER

37:07

First Timer!

250

64

Caren THAIN

38:53

PB stays at 00:38:04

251

65

Claire ENNEVER-DORMER

38:53

First Timer!

265

70

Hayley PEACH

41:36

PB stays at 00:39:46

272

76

Verity FISHER

55:30

Tail-runner

Note: there may be missing Spartans as there was a scanner fault on the day.

In other Hertfordshire events, TRACY STILES ran at Panshanger and achieved a new course PB of 30:03 knocking an impressive 79 seconds off her previous attempt there. In his first visit to Cassiobury Park in Watford JOHN ROXBOROUGH was 38th finisher in 21:52 while TIM ROBINSON accompanied his son round Ellenbrook Fields in 39:29.

Finally DARRYL STEVENS was 227th finisher at Lloyd parkrun in Croydon in a time of 55:24 on his first visit there.

League Campaign

Fairlands Valley Spartans are hoping for a big turnout of club members at the next midweek league race which will be in Trent Park this Thursday evening, 9th June.

Coming Events

Many Spartans will be enjoying a busy programme of races, social and training events over the next few weeks including the:

Live in or near Stevenage? Like running? Fairlands Valley Spartans is your local running club and is on the up! The club was voted the UK’s Best Running Club in 2010. It now has hundreds of members and encourages participation by all. The Spartans have a varied training programme to suit those who want to run 5 kilometres through to full marathons.

The Spartans weekday training sessions are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Go along to the new sports centre at Marriotts School – a Sports College, Telford Avenue, Stevenage (SG2 8UT) at 7p.m. Up to five running groups go out on training nights – there will be one to suit you!

The Spartan Starter group starts from Marriotts at 7.30p.m. every Monday (except public holidays) and 7p.m. every Thursday.

Most long Sunday morning training sessions start 9a.m. sharp. Spartan track training sessions are held at Ridlins Athletics Track, Woodcock Road, Stevenage most Saturdays from 9.15a.m. There are events to enter every Sunday. Newcomers are very welcome – those who have not yet done very much running might prefer to start with a Thursday, Saturday or Monday session.

Try a few sessions before joining. Membership is only £37 per year, £25 without UKA affiliation. Concessions are available. Membership forms are available on the Spartans website www.fvspartans.org.uk Please ask if you would like a paper copy. You can also join online.

If you want to know more about the Spartans please contact Jim Brown (0793 968 7509), Andy Neatham 0777 197 5499 and 01438 816889; or Karen Palmer (07734678566) or visit their website www.fvspartans.org.uk

Our starter group is the place for beginners, improvers, and anybody who wants to complete a gentle 5k run as part of their exercise program, whatever your ability or level of fitness. Everybody is welcome,